Tinea Versicolor Cleveland

Tinea Versicolor is a common skin condition due to overgrowth of a skin surface yeast (type of fungus). This overgrowth results in uneven skin color and scaling that can be unsightly and sometimes itch. The yeast normally lives in the pores of everyone’s skin. It thrives in oily areas such as the neck, upper chest, and back.

The rash has small and scaly white-to-pink to tan-to-dark spots. These spots are scattered over the upper arms, chest, and back, and may sometimes appear on the neck and face. The fungus grows slowly and prevents the skin from tanning normally.

Tinea Versicolor is treated with either topical or oral medications. Topical treatment includes special cleansers including some shampoos, creams, or lotions applied directly to the skin, once or twice a day. Several oral medications have been used successfully to treat tinea versicolor.

Each patient is treated by the dermatologist according to the severity and location of the disease, the climate, and the desire of the patient. It’s important to remember that the yeast is easy to kill, but it can take weeks or months for the skin to regain its normal color.